About Reiki.
Reiki is an energy healing practice that originated in Japan, focusing on channeling universal life force energy (or ki, also known as qi or prana) to promote balance, healing and wellbeing.
It works on the principle that everything in the universe is composed of energy, and when our energy becomes blocked or imbalanced, it can manifest as physical, emotional, or spiritual discomfort.
The basic practice is through touch or hovering hands over specific points on the body, a reiki practitioner serves as a conduit for this healing energy, helping to remove blockages and restore the natural flow of energy throughout your being. Think of it as sending fresh energy to your system, allowing your body’s innate healing abilities to function at their optimal level.
My Reiki Story.
I was drawn to reiki when a friend of mine – who was a Level 2 Reiki Practitioner at the time – talked about how reiki eased her dog during the latter’s last days. It just so happens that I met another friend who provides Reiki certifications at that time. My partner Eddy was really into Qigong at that time, so he too liked the idea of reiki. So we took the first level, which was an interesting experience.
Since then, I have been exploring and experimenting, using Level 2 Reiki practices at Level 1, and practising Master level exercises at Level 2. I have unravelled a lot of emotional knots, and discovered pathways within myself that have helped me forgive, grow, develop, and bloom.
The ‘easiest’ subjects for my practices – aside from myself – have always been my animals. Since my Reiki journey began, my relationships with them have grown (I have three cats now, and two dogs). The remaining cats I had earlier, during my Reiki Levels 1 and 2, also benefited from the practice, having been eased into the beyond at a much faster and peaceful state than the two cats who did not have the benefit of Reiki practice at their death.
Of course, I also practice on myself, and my clients – whether human or animal. The journey has been interesting and somewhat amazing. And I am eager to share the benefits of Reiki to the world.
Here are a few areas where Reiki may benefit you.
Reiki for Midlife.
Midlife brings its unique set of challenges and transitions that can disrupt our energetic balance. The physical changes, shifting relationships, career reassessments, and existential questions that often emerge during this phase can leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves and our purpose.
What can perhaps be said is that midlife isn’t so much a crisis as it is a calling – a powerful invitation to reassess what truly matters.
Reiki offers a gentle but profound way to navigate these midlife transitions. The energy work helps release outdated patterns and beliefs that no longer serve us, making space for new perspectives and possibilities. During reiki sessions, I have experienced much clarity about my path forward, as if the energy is not just healing my body, but illuminating my journey.
Regular reiki practice during midlife may help balance hormonal fluctuations, ease physical discomforts, reduce stress and anxiety about the future, and may also foster a deeper connection with your authentic self.
It creates a sacred pause in the busyness of life, allowing your inner wisdom to emerge and guide you toward what’s next.
After all, midlife isn’t just about growing older – it’s about growing deeper.
Reiki for Grief.
In grief, I feel it’s important to acknowledge that healing doesn’t mean forgetting or “getting over” our loss – it means learning to carry it differently. Grief affects us on every level – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual – and reiki works on all these dimensions simultaneously.
The energy work provides a safe container for processing difficult emotions that might otherwise remain trapped in the body. During sessions, you may experience waves of sadness, relief, anger, or peace – all normal parts of the grieving process that reiki helps move through your system rather than staying stuck.
What makes reiki particularly powerful for grief is that it requires nothing of you except to be present and willing. Unlike talk therapy or other healing modalities, you don’t need to explain your grief or relive painful memories. You simply receive the energy, allowing it to go where it’s needed most.
In my experience, reiki doesn’t accelerate grief – which has its own timeline for you – but it does make the process less chaotic and more bearable. It creates pockets of peace in the storm of loss.
It reminds us that even in our darkest moments, we are held by something greater than ourselves.
Reiki as a spiritual practice.
Originally, reiki was used as a spiritual path – not as a healing technique. The physical healing was a side-effect.
Reiki practice invites us towards a different way of being in the world. The five reiki precepts – just for today: do not anger, do not worry, be grateful, work honestly, be kind to all living things – offer a framework for daily spiritual practice that stands untethered to any religion.
Regular self-treatment forms the foundation of reiki as a spiritual practice. You develop an intimate relationship with your own energy system and learn to listen to your own inner wisdom. This practice of presence and attention gradually extends beyond the treatment table into everyday moments – washing dishes becomes an opportunity for mindfulness, challenging conversations become chances to practice compassion.
The philosophy of reiki embraces several key concepts: non-interference (allowing energy to flow where it’s needed rather than directing it with the ego), non-attachment to outcomes (trusting the process rather than forcing specific results), and the interconnectedness of all beings (recognising that healing ourselves contributes to healing the whole).
And those of you who follow my own yoga offerings can see how similar the philosophical practices are.
As you deepen your reiki practice, you may notice subtle shifts in perception – synchronicities become more frequent, intuitive insights arise more naturally, and the boundary between the physical and spiritual realms becomes more permeable.
These aren’t supernatural phenomena but natural outcomes of living more attentively and energetically aware.
Spirituality vs Religion.
One question I often receive is whether reiki conflicts with religious beliefs. The simple answer is no – reiki is a spiritual practice, not a religion. It doesn’t require adopting any particular doctrine or worshipping any deity. Instead, it invites us into a direct experience of the life force energy that flows through all things, which different traditions have given different names: chi, prana, holy spirit, divine light.
Spirituality, as I experience it, is about the direct personal relationship with something greater than ourselves, the divine; while religion often provides the community, rituals, and stories that help us understand and navigate that relationship. Both have their place, and practitioners may find that reiki enhances rather than contradicts their religious practice, deepening their connection to the divine as they understand it.
I have worked with clients from various religious backgrounds – Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist – and many find that reiki helps them access the mystical dimensions of their own traditions. The energy itself doesn’t belong to any single faith but flows through all of creation, available to anyone who chooses to open to it.
What matters most is your intention and the meaning you bring to the practice.
Reiki meets you where you are and honours your unique spiritual journey, whatever form it takes.
Using Reiki, Yoga and Fitness for overall wellness.
IReiki, yoga, and fitness create a powerful trinity for holistic wellness when used in conjunction. Each addresses different aspects of our being, while supporting the others in a beautiful synergy.
Reiki works primarily on the energy body, clearing blockages and balancing the chakras, which creates an optimal foundation for physical practices. After a reiki session, you might notice your yoga practice feels more integrated – poses that once felt challenging become accessible as energy flows more freely through previously blocked areas.
Yoga serves as a bridge between energy work and fitness, combining movement with mindfulness in a way that honours both the subtle and physical bodies. The mindful breathwork in yoga complements reiki’s energy flow, while the physical postures prepare the body for more active fitness pursuits.
Fitness training addresses the physical body directly, building strength, endurance, and functional capacity. But when approached with the mindfulness of yoga and the energetic awareness of reiki, even high-intensity workouts can become moving meditations that leave you feeling energised rather than depleted.
In my experience, this integrated approach creates sustainable wellness because it doesn’t compartmentalise our being but addresses us as whole, multidimensional beings. Some days might call for the gentle restoration of reiki, others for the moving meditation of yoga, and still others for the empowering challenge of fitness training.
Learning to listen to what your body needs each day is itself a profound practice.
How can I help?
If you’re curious about incorporating reiki into your wellness journey, I offer several pathways to support you. Individual sessions provide personalised healing experiences tailored to your specific needs, whether you are navigating grief, midlife transitions, or simply seeking greater balance and wellbeing.
For those drawn to learn reiki themselves, I offer training in all levels from beginner to master teacher, with ongoing mentorship to support your development as a practitioner. The beautiful thing about reiki is that once attuned, you have this healing tool for life – a gift that keeps giving to yourself and others.
Group healing circles create community around energy work, allowing participants to both give and receive healing in a supportive environment. These gatherings are especially powerful during challenging collective times when we need to remember our interconnectedness.
I also create customised wellness plans that integrate reiki with yoga and fitness, designed for your unique constitution and lifestyle. Whether you have five minutes or an hour each day, there are practices that can support your energetic wellbeing.
Whatever path calls to you, remember that healing is not linear but cyclical. There will be times of breakthrough and times of integration, moments of clarity and periods of confusion. The energy meets you exactly where you are, offering exactly what you need in that moment – sometimes gentle, sometimes powerful, always transformative.
Reach out when you’re ready to begin or deepen your reiki journey. The energy is already flowing – all you need to do is open to receive it.